Preview — Flashman and the Tiger by George MacDonald Fraser

"Badly edited, poor continuity and internal consistency. Authors seem to change between books. Plot is cliched and thin, with virtually no character development save for Judas Iscariot. The main characters of Jesus and Moses are entirely one dimens..."
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In what feels like far too familiar ground, Fraser sends off Flashman in a case of royal identity swapping and folly. Frequently it reads like a Marx brothers farce, teetering dangerously on the ridiculous. However, Flashman's nasty turns and ruthlesIn what feels like far too familiar ground, Fraser sends off Flashman in a case of royal identity swapping and folly. Frequently it reads like a Marx brothers farce, teetering dangerously on the ridiculous. However, Flashman's nasty turns and ruthlessly coward sense of self preservation carries us through what would otherwise be a paint-by-numbers adventure....more

Less Flashy and more complex winding through China's political upheaval and mammoth 19th century rebellion, Flashman's winning wang keeps him thrusting through historical events and kept alive through a combination of luck, pluck, and one more rhyminLess Flashy and more complex winding through China's political upheaval and mammoth 19th century rebellion, Flashman's winning wang keeps him thrusting through historical events and kept alive through a combination of luck, pluck, and one more rhyming word starting with f. The Flashman books can be divided into two camps - those where Flashman's character dictates plot changes, and the others where Flashman finds himself forced, coerced, kidnapped, or hostage-cum-witness. I find the former more intriguing, while the latter are more informative but much more dry from a narrative perspective. Still, this book achieves several distinct movements and chronicles a monumental shift in China's politics in one of the bloodiest battles in human history....more

The best historical fiction takes the reader on a journey from familiar major events into exotic worlds of behind-the-scenes fantasy. Flashman in the Great Game is G.M. Fraser and his Flashman at their best. Dovetailing from the previous book, FlashmThe best historical fiction takes the reader on a journey from familiar major events into exotic worlds of behind-the-scenes fantasy. Flashman in the Great Game is G.M. Fraser and his Flashman at their best. Dovetailing from the previous book, Flashman finds himself lured back to India and dogged by a Russian nemesis now posing as diplomat in events leading up to and through the bloody Sepoy Rebellion. Again, Flashman is at all the major fights from the build up to the climax, and this time his cowardice and terror push him to his limits and he comes through the other side with an alien sensation of honor. Flashman in the Great Game feels like every element from the preceding novels coming together in one, giant precision story. Flashman is still bawdy, lecherous, a bully, and occasionally cruel - but Fraser works these character flaws into gold by organically placing Flashman into situations where these attributes are helpful, culminating in a finale that shows the asylum where only a madman could be king....more

Originally published in serialized form in the pages of Playboy, this quick Flashman novel feels like a tease for a grander tale. Flashman heads to the Crimea where he documents the lightning flash charge of the Light Brigade and then is whisked offOriginally published in serialized form in the pages of Playboy, this quick Flashman novel feels like a tease for a grander tale. Flashman heads to the Crimea where he documents the lightning flash charge of the Light Brigade and then is whisked off to the Ukraine for a cold imprisonment. Because it was serialized it reads with more cliffhangers and repeating tempo and there is a romp or a squeeze occurring like clockwork. But what are the Flashman papers other than porn for gents? 1970's Playboy is the perfect setting for a Flashman campaign - long articles interrupted by flashes of naughty bits. Flashman at the CHarge delivers....more

Preview — Flashman at the Charge by George MacDonald Fraser

“My experience of life is that it is not divided up into genres; it’s a horrifying, romantic, tragic, comical, science-fiction cowboy detective novel. You know, with a bit of pornography if you're lucky.”
―
Alan Moore

Q&A with Steven Pressfield
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— last activity Jul 17, 2011 06:20AM
Steven Pressfield will be available July 7 through July 18, 2008 to answer questions and talk about his new book, Killing Rommel.